"So… when did you start practicing magic?" Arthur asked casually, even absent-mindedly.

"H-what?" Merlin stumbled, dropping the water basin he was holding on the floor with a clang. He knelt to pick it up, scrubbing hard where water had spilled, heart beating even harder.

He looked up to gauge the reaction on Arthur's face, but choked in surprise. Arthur had a sword at his throat, and was glaring down at his icily, even more so than usual.

"Arth-" he tried to cough out his master's name, but Arthur only held the blade firmer to his throat. A bead of blood glistened. Merlin had no idea what to do. Bile rose in his throat. What could he do? How had Arthur found out? How would he-

Merlin woke up and sat bolt upright in bed, sweating nervously. He felt his throat.

There was a small, open wound, bleeding lightly. Merlin convinced himself he had gotten it earlier while polishing armour, and got up, not quite ready for the day of work ahead of him.

~X~

"Don't be such a girl, Merlin!" Arthur chided, swinging his sword at the shield Merlin was holding, causing him to stumble backward and fall on his back, winded.

Arthur sheathed his sword and stood above Merlin, holding out a hand.

Merlin took it gingerly, and heaved himself upward with a groan.

"You're so weak, Merlin. It's a wonder you last through any skirmishes,"

Merlin smiled, chuckling at his secret to… well, staying alive.

Magic.

He wanted to tell Arthur so badly, but knew he couldn't. He feared for his life, and the dream last night had shaken him. And besides, sometimes Arthur's emotional responses were a bit unpredictable.

"What are you smiling about, Merlin?" Arthur teased, thwacking him in the shoulder like he always did. Merlin thought he ought to be used to it by now, but he wasn't. It still hurt like the first time Arthur had ever punched him like that.

"Nothing, your royal prat-ness," he replied, grinning goofily. He then bowed with extreme flourish, causing Arthur to smile as well.

Merlin returned upright, and his vision swam. He swayed on his feet, feeling nauseous.

Arthur looked at him with genuine concern. "Merlin, are you all right?"

Merlin fainted and crumbled to the ground.

"MERLIN!" Arthur shouted, before everything went totally black.

~X~

Merlin stumbled and found himself deep in the forest. He had no idea how he had arrived there, and looked around, trying to spot anything even slightly familiar. There wasn't anything of the sort, and quite frankly, it was immensely nerve-wracking.

After all those hunts, Merlin prided himself on being able to get around Camelot and beyond very easily. But as of right now, he was completely lost.

~X~

Meanwhile, quite curiously, Arthur was carrying Merlin to Gaius's chambers, hoping the wise old physician could help.

Arthur opened the door with a strong kick, startling Gaius, causing him to drop a vile of a strange blue liquid he was holding.

Arthur winced. "Sorry," he apologized, "but Merlin-"

"It's all right, sire," Gaius said. "Lay Merlin down on the table. What happened this time?"

"He fainted at practice," Arthur began. Gaius sagged a bit in relief. Nothing to do with magic or beasts, then. "But this time was different, Gaius," Arthur continued, worry creeping into his voice.

"Why?"

"He just… crumbled. He didn't look dizzy or tired or anything. And I can't get any sort of response from him, except breathing,"

~X~

Merlin plodded about a bit, until he spotted a village to his left, beyond some hills. He smiled, and headed towards it.

When he arrived, a friendly looking woman waved to him. "Hello, stranger!" she greeted cheerfully.

"Um, can you give me directions to Camelot?" Merlin asked her. It was clear in his face that he needed this information.

"Of course!" she replied, and continued to tell him it was three days travel from here, to the north. He left, thanking her, walking quickly. He intended to get there in less than three days.

~X~

Arthur was right. Merlin had no answers to anything- potions, slaps, food, (Gaius's magic when he was alone) and other things. He was simply breathing, in a coma state that no one could rouse him out of.

Everyone was distraught. Gwen wept like they'd already lost him; the castle felt empty without his usual silly banter, but Arthur was in the worst shape.

It was as if Merlin had tamed Arthur, and the moment Merlin "left", so to speak, Arthur had been extra rude and detached, barking his (hopefully) temporary servant almost to tears.

"Arthur, you simply must pull yourself together," his uncle said carefully, leaning against Arthur's chamber doors. "Who knows how long he will be like that, if he'll ever return-"

"Enough!" Arthur snapped, but calmed a bit. "I will hear none of this. Merlin always survives,"

His uncle nodded in compliance, and left, smiling kindly at Arthur. His smile turned sour and mischievous as he walked away, rubbing his hands together in evil anticipation.

~X~

Merlin got to what he thought was far enough away from the village, and hid behind a tree. He whispered an incantation to take him right outside Camelot's walls. But nothing happened. Merlin frowned, confused, and tried a variety of spells, some of them really simple, but none of them worked. He couldn't use magic! He sighed worriedly, and continued his way to Camelot on foot, still intending to get there in less than three days. Maybe when he arrived, Gaius could help him.

True to his word, Camelot was in his sights only two days later. He walked through the castle gates, and no one threw him a passing glance. He relaxed, feeling at home. Now to get to Gaius.

He burst through the chamber door. What he saw stopped him dead in his tracks. He was lying on a bed, moved from his room to the main chambers, with all of his best friends huddled tight around him. Gwen was sobbing.

It was so weird- standing in the doorway, looking at himself lying on bed, pale and weak. Gaius looked up sorrowfully and asked, "Will someone shut that cursed door?"

Gwaine walked straight through Merlin, and shut the door softly, before turned around and walking back through Merlin to return to his position next to the Merlin who was on the bed.

"Gaius…?" Merlin said. Gaius didn't look up, giving no signs that he had heard him.

It struck Merlin, like one of Arthur's slaps when he was sleeping on the job.